Crane captured, toe amputated and released into wild

A juvenile whooping crane that migrated from Wisconsin last fall was found limping and in distress last month in the Miami area, where she was captured, a toe was amputated, and after a period of recovery, the bird was released on Saturday in Tennessee.

“We chose to capture this injured whooping crane, and it has turned out to be the right call,” said Billy Brooks, whooping crane coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the eastern migratory population.

Whooping cranes are endangered species. There are 111 in the eastern United States, according to authorities.

The crane was released from the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in October with five other cranes as part of a program known as “direct autumn release” – a technique to introduce young cranes to fall migration where they travel with older cranes.

A second technique involves the use of ultralight aircraft, where the cranes follow the light planes.

The young whooper and the other cranes migrated for the first time to the Everglades, so far the southern most migration in the eastern flock.

In early January, citizens reported seeing a limping crane; later the bird showed signs of distress and was listless.

It was captured on Jan. 26 and taken to Disney’s Animal Kingdom near Orlando, where her right middle toe was amputated because of an infection

The bird was isolated and had little interaction with humans. Staff used crane costumes and did not talk as they treated the bird. She remained at Disney until she was transported to Tennessee on Saturday.

In the 12 years of the program to re-introduce cranes to the eastern U.S., no other whooping crane has been captured, treated at a veterinary facility and released back into the wild.

About Lee Bergquist

Lee Bergquist covers environmental issues and is author of "Second Wind: The Rise of the Ageless Athlete."